re·ces·sive / riˈsesiv/ • adj. 1. Genetics relating to or denoting heritable characteristics controlled by genes that are expressed in offspring only when inherited from both parents, i.e., when not masked by a dominant characteristic inherited from one parent.Often contrasted with dominant.2. undergoing an economic recession: the recessive housing market.3. Phonet. (of the stress on a word or phrase) tending to fall on the first syllable.• n. Genetics a recessive trait or gene.DERIVATIVES: re·ces·sive·ly adv.re·ces·sive·ness n.re·ces·siv·i·ty / ˌrēˌsesˈivətē/ n.

recessive The allele that is not expressed in the phenotype when two different alleles are present in the cells of an organism. The aspect of a characteristic controlled by a recessive allele only appears when two such alleles are present, i.e. in the double recessive condition. Compare dominant.

recessive (ri-ses-iv) adj. describing a gene (or its corresponding characteristic) whose effect is shown in the individual only when its allele is the same, i.e. when two such alleles are present (the double recessive condition). Compare dominant. See also autosomal.
—recessive n.